The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VERS. XXV.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

The same that I said unto you from the beginning.

I. AMongst the several rendrings of this place, this seems the most proper; The same that I said unto you from the beginning. So Gen. XLIII. 18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. the money returned at the first time: and vers. 20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. we came indeed down at the first time to buy food.

The words thus rendred may refer to that full and open profession our Saviour made of himself before the Sanhedrin, that he was the Son of God, the Messiah, Chap. V. do you ask me who I am? I am the same that I told you from the beginning, when I was summoned to answer before the Sanhedrin.

II. However, I cannot but a little call to mind, the common forms of speech used so much in the Jewish Schools. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the beginning and the end. Where by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they meant any thing that was chiefly and primarily to be offered and taken no∣tice of: by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 what was secondary, or of less weight.

p 1.1 The question is, whether it were lawful for the Priests to sleep in their Holy Vest∣ments. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the end: or the secondary question was whether it was lawful for them to sleep in them. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the beginning; or the thing chiefly and primarily to be discust, was whether it was lawful for them to have them on at all, but in Divine Service. Hence the Gemarists, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Tradition is, that they must not sleep in them, if you will explain the end [or secondary question] but, let them put them off and sold them up, and lay them under their heads [when they sleep] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 This, the beginning [or chief matter in hand] determines. That is, that it is not lawful for the Priest so much as to wear his Holy Garments but when he is in Holy Service.

q 1.2 It is a Tradition of the Rabbins, if one in walking near any City see lights in it; If the greatest number in that City be Cuthites, let him not bless them; if they be most Israelites, let him bless it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They teach the beginning, when they say, most Cu∣thites. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They teach the end when they say, most Israelites. The chief and principal scruple was, whether they should pronounce a blessing upon those lights, when there might be most Cuthites in the City that lighted them up: The lesser scruple was, whether he should bless them, if there was most Israelites in that City.

r 1.3 There is a dispute upon that precept, Levit. XVII. 13. If any one kill a Beast or Bird up∣on an Holy day, the Shammean School saith, let him dig with an instrument, and cover the

blood; The School of Hillel saith, let him not kill at all, if he have not dust ready by him to cover the blood.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The end, or the secondary question, is about covering the blood if a Beast should be killed. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The beginning, or the principal question, is, about killing a Beast or a Fowl at all upon an Holy day; meerly for the labour of scraping up dust, if there be none at hand.

There are numberless instances of this kind, and if our Saviour had any respect to this form or mode of speaking, we may suppose what he said, was to this purpose.

You ask who I am? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The beginning. That is the chief thing to be enquired into which I now say, viz. That I am the Light of the world, the Messiah, the Son of God, &c. But what works I do, what Doctrines I teach, and by what authority: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 this is an enquiry of the second place in comparison to that first and chief question who I am.

Notes

• p 1.1

  Tamid. fol. 61. 1.
• q 1.2

  Beracoth, fol. 53. 1.
• r 1.3

  Bezah. fol. 6. 2.